“Kristin is dedicated to bringing yoga into every aspect of life, on and off the mat, and inspiring her students to do the same. Kristin believes deeply in the transformational power of yoga. She first discovered yoga after wandering into a class at her college gym more than a decade ago. It has led her on a winding path through graduate school and a professional career, around the world and back, and into the extraordinary role of teacher, where she continues to learn with every breath.

Kristin is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance. She teaches vinyasa yoga with an emphasis on mindfully linking breath and movement and finding alignment in the flow. Her classes are fun, energetic, and inspiring! She completed her 200-hour teacher training through Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, DC, and is also certified to teach prenatal yoga as well as children’s yoga through YoKid. She offers gratitude to all of the inspiring teachers with whom she has studied, including Seane Corn, Sharon Gannon and David Life of Jivamukti Yoga, Jason Crandell, Alanna Kaivalya, and Darren Main.”

Since she began dancing at age four, Meaghan has always made movement a part of her life. She began running track at a young age and developed her competitive spirit and a passion for achieving excellence via physical fitness. It was through dance that Meaghan found yoga over eight years ago; beginning with Bikram classes, she eventually found her groove in Vinyasa. Meaghan has been teaching cardio, strength training, and yoga classes for over 5 years and incorporates CrossFit, weightlifting, and yoga into her own fitness regimen. Expect to be challenged and educated in Meaghan’s classes. Whether it’s yoga or an intensity class, you will leave energized and with new knowledge about your body and its abilities.

D.C. native Stephanie Merry began making yoga a priority in her life as a New Year’s resolution in 2004, and she’s been enjoying the calm-inducing benefits ever since. Yoga was her trusted companion during moves to New York City and Berkley, Cali., where she stumbled upon new teachers and assorted styles, all of which inform her own teaching. She completed her 200-hour training at Flow Yoga Center and focuses on making sure each student leaves class feeling a little sunnier than when he or she arrived.

As a dedicated student and teacher of yoga, Monica believes that by practicing the 8 limbs of yoga with faith, determination and a few tricks (like using the imagination and copying the teacher), it is possible to live a truly blissful life. Offering a calm yet challenging flow of postures along with breathing and concentration techniques in all of her classes, she invites students of every background to deepen their yoga practice as a meditative and spiritual experience. If she could give her students even a few moments of ease and no worries, she would be happy with that, too. Monica earned her 200-hour yoga teacher certification from Flow Yoga Center, Washington, DC. and will enter the 500-hour Life of A Yogi program with master Sri Dharma Mittra in New York, NY this fall. Monica is also a Pilates teacher whose mat classes will give you a great workout set to fun music.

Kate Miller brings over 20 years of teaching experience to her classes at MINT. With a gift for teaching to all levels and special conditions, she loves to weave words of inspiration and spirit into her clear, direct instruction. Kate draws her depth of knowledge and kinesthetic understanding not only from many alignment based hatha yoga styles (Iyengar, Anusara, Astanga, Prana Flow), but also from her continued exploration of anatomy and movement, her daily practice of vipassana meditation and the various forms of dance she continues to study. She holds a BFA in modern dance and a MA in spiritual psychology. To her prenatal and postnatal classes, Kate brings her knowledge and experience as a certified birth doula (DONA), a trained postpartum doula (DONA) and a trained childbirth educator. She is also trained in the RIE and Pikler approaches to childcare and infant development. It is Kate’s wish to inspire her students to radically affirm and honor all that they embody and find for themselves on the mat what will best serve them in their day to day lives. To learn more about Kate, you can go to her website www.redmoonyoga.com

I practice yoga as a way to become more present in everyday activities, as well as increase mindfulness, flexibility, and strength. My approach to yoga is simple: clear alignment-based instruction paired with a practical yoga philosophy (and accompanied by an inspiring soundtrack). My classes cater from the beginner to advanced yogi (2 year olds-adulthood), and I am happy to accommodate any requests for poses. Students can expect a supportive and encouraging atmosphere that enables them to push to their intelligent edge using their breath as a guide.

Bonnie Foote, PhD, E-RYT500, did her 200- and 300-hour trainings in Los Angeles at the original YogaWorks studios. She’s been a full-time yoga teacher since she finished her training and moved to DC in 2010… and she loves it!

Bonnie’s classes are carefully sequenced, from a gentle warm-up with focus on breath and alignment to stronger poses that put the same principles into action. She suggests props and modifications to keep optimal alignment in each pose, and she pays close attention to each student as an individual. Despite all the detail, she does encourage a light-hearted approach, and she usually allows for a fairly long Savasana (resting pose) at the end.

Ferdaouis (fir-dos) is a 200-hour registered yoga teacher with a special appreciation for heated and vinyasa styles. She first became dedicated to yoga as a volunteer and student with Bikram yoga studios in the Washington, DC area in 2011 – in classes that forced the mind and body to slow down, pay attention, heal, and overcome personal barriers. She has loved exploring the incredible and diverse DC yoga scene ever since, and loves the way all approaches to yoga are uniquely contributing to stronger, healthier, and more peaceful communities. She loves working on her own practice and challenges (of which she has many) with yoga, and strives to bring happy, patient, and body-positive classes to her students.

Mariela Gomez has been teaching babies, parents and children yoga since 2013. After receiving her Budding Yogis certification, she found out she was pregnant! Plans went on hold until motherhood sunk in, and her daughter has been ‘teaching’ and practicing with her ever since. Mariela’s daughter brings such joy, fun, energy and love to her life. As a certified kids, postnatal and adult yoga instructor, she wants to share that experience and playfulness with her students, helping them disconnect from their everyday stresses and connect positively with their children and families.

Dr. Ariele Foster (PT, DPT, E-RYT 500) is a doctor of physical therapy, a yoga teacher, founder of YogaAnatomyAcademy.com, and anatomy faculty for yoga trainings and 90Monkeys.com online continuing education. She has a passion for creative, intelligent yoga instruction and for making yoga anatomy accessible.
Ariele grew up practicing with her grandmother, started studying optimal health as a teenager, and began teaching yoga in 2001. Her interdisciplinary classes (trained in Kripalu, Anusara, Vinyasa, YogaWorks and Therapeutics) are enriched by biomechanical smarts, therapeutic know-how, great playlists and humor.

Dr. Foster specializes in manual and orthopedic physical therapy, including myofascial release, and incorporates yoga into physical therapy rehabilitation plans with an eye on functional movement and whole body medicine. She treats patients at Medstar Georgetown Hospital & in Woodley Park, as well as leads yoga and yoga anatomy retreats around the world.

Read Dr. Foster’s blogs at http://sacredsourceyoga.com/ and http://yogaanatomyacademy.com ; stay connected at http://facebook.com/SacredSourceYoga ; facebook.com/YogaAnatomyAcademy and instagram.com/ariele_superstar or take her online classes at: https://www.youtube.com/user/SacredSourceYoga

Claire began her yoga practice as a teenager growing up in rural Canada. Since 2011, she has been teaching yoga consistently to people of all experience levels. She is a graduate of a 108-hour Anusara immersion, a 200-hour Power Vinyasa teacher training program, a Prenatal Yoga apprenticeship, and advanced training with Faith Hunter. Claire is passionate about yoga, running, and museums. In the studio, Claire encourages students to explore their edges with safe alignment and breath. Students should expect to be both challenged and cared for in her classes.

Kelly knows that yoga makes people feel better, so she is constantly encouraging people to try it! Kelly loves teaching newbies as well as advanced practitioners, and loves the community spirit that yoga fosters, and how it supports good health and lowers stress. An enthusiastic DC yogini since 2006, years Kelly completed her RY200 Yoga Certification in Vinyasa Flow from Tranquil Space in 2009. She incorporates principal yogic themes from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras such as ‘letting go’ and ‘being present’ in her classes and loves incorporating reading in her class from spiritual leaders such as Pema Chodrun, and Thich Nhat Hanh. Kelly is also a certified Fuse Pilates teacher and generally teaches with a focus on core engagement and will throw extra challenging core poses into class (upon request). She has a keen eye for alignment, and gives assists throughout to all students. Kelly is enrolled in an Advanced Teacher Training program at Tranquil Space and plans to acquire her 500 hour certification in 2016. She believes in the importance of karma yoga as well, and teaches free yoga at work, among being involved in other charities. Kelly also teaches Meditation, and feels that meditation makes you feel calmer and more focused even just from a 10 or 15 minute meditation. Overcome your stress and find some inner peace and balance in Kelly’s yoga and meditation classes!

Kate’s passion for yoga began to manifest in 2005 in Minneapolis as an undergrad when she first discovered the Ashtanga Primary Series. After graduating college, Kate moved to North Carolina where she completed her 200 and 500 hour teacher trainings as well as the Ashtanga Primary Series teacher intensive with David Swensen. In 2015, Kate was hired as the full-time yoga teacher for Womack Army Medical Center’s Intrepid Spirit Center on Ft. Bragg, NC, teaching yoga and mindfulness practices to active duty soldiers as a part of the Pain Management and Traumatic Brain Injury Clinics for two years.

Kate’s classes are influenced by several different styles and lineages with an emphasis on the dynamic sequencing of Ashtanga yoga blended with the importance of safe alignment in Iyengar yoga. As a teacher, her intention is to offer fun and playful classes that are designed to inspire self-awareness, a feeling of personal empowerment as well as a sense of the connection we have to ourselves and the world we live in.

Dustin is passionate about his work as a yoga teacher with the Junior Olympic boxing team here in Washington, DC. As a yoga teacher, he enjoys volunteering his time to guide young athletes through breathing exercises and meditation practices. When you take one of Dustin’s classes, you’ll notice a simple, straight-forward class with little or no sound in the room. He creates space for people to work on their inner-self and deal with the pains of day-to-day life with a easy-to-follow and self-challenging asana flow. He likes to teach the ‘bird’ poses because that’s his spirit animal.

Shahrooz has been practicing yoga for ten years and is thrilled at any opportunity to share his love of the practice with others. He has a strong conviction that yoga is for everyone and works to create a welcoming classroom environment for all levels from beginners to advanced yogis. Compassion is the priority of his practice both on and off the mat. Shahrooz has been teaching in DC for two years with a focus on creating a friendly, energetic & inclusive space at MINT.

Yoga was introduced to me when I attempted to take a spin class. 2 minutes into the warmup I quickly realized spinning was not for me. Already in my workout clothes and at the gym, I stumbled into my first yoga class and loved it! It sounds cliché’ but once I was ready to make changes in my life and accept the benefits, yoga became a part of my daily routine. I turned to teaching during a rough period in my life, as a distraction. Teacher training forced me to meet my true self at a very vulnerable time. I enjoy teaching a vinyasa/power flow to fun energetic playlists. I enjoy challenging people to either go deeper in their practice or stay exactly where their body/mind/life positions them. I want my students to have the best hour of their day in my classes!

Ashley Binetti received her 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training at Saraswatis’s Yoga Joint in Norwalk, CT in 2011. Ashley’s classes are both playful and challenging, with a focus on proper alignment. What’s her favorite pose? Triangle, of course! When she’s not doing yoga, you can find Ashley working as a human rights attorney, running the Human Rights Institute at Georgetown Law, teaching, and researching… just to name a few things. She is also one of our incredible MINT Ambassadors!

Emily Szajda, writer, chef, yoga and meditation instructor and sports nutritionist left “Corporate America” managing high-volume restaurants in Phoenix, Arizona for an entrepreneurial life focused on finding more work/life balance in Europe. After having launched a successful yoga and wellness program with Serendip Spa, a luxury sanctuary in the heart of Brussels, working with the internationally recognized Belgian Beer and Food Magazine, and hosting sumptuous catered events with Bookalokal, a global platform connecting local chefs with a hungry audience, she moved to Barcelona, Spain. Emily helped launch BCN Connections, an educational travel company providing medical professionals continuing education training in Europe while indulging in luxurious wellness retreats. Currently, Emily is working with GBSB Global Business School managing all of the institution’s content from tourism and fashion to finance through digital and print. Emily also writes for Basmati, a lifestyle and wellness website, and Chowhound, a CBS Interactive website for food enthusiasts. Emily now lives in Washington DC where she offers small group, corporate and private yoga, meditation and mindfulness classes and workshops. She collaborates with recharj® meditation studio, located in the city and Marino Wellness, located in Los Angeles, California. She also provides nutrition counseling to an array of international clients. Emily has appeared on HGTV’s House Hunters International and other international media platforms. Find out more at http://www.emilydawnyogaandwellness.com.

I deeply believe in the healing power of yoga and body-based approaches to well-being. In 2010, I stumbled into my first yoga class shortly after experiencing a trauma that left me feeling disoriented and out of control of my body and life. I left the class feeling taller, stronger, and more peaceful than I had in years, and from that day forward, I was hooked on asana – the physical aspect of yoga. As my practice evolved, I discovered that there was infinitely more to yoga than what happens on the mat, and went on to complete my 200-Hr Yoga Teacher Certification. With a continued interest in the healing process, I attended George Washington University where I received a Master’s in Art Therapy. In my yoga classes, I hope to create a space where students can explore and express themselves through movement without judgment. Generally, you can expect lots of energy, movement, heat, and strength-building postures with slower movement and longer holds at the end. I like to incorporate humor, playfulness, and lead my classes with upbeat music.